Injured students initiate legal proceedings

Students from the National University branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement begun legal proceedings after seven individuals were injured in a clash between two groups at the central office of the movement in the capital’s Banglamotor area on Tuesday.

Tanzeed Mohammad Sohrab Reza, co-coordinator of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), shared the update at a press conference at the National Press Club’s Badminton Playground on Wednesday.

Sohrab Reza said: "There was a second attack yesterday in the presence of coordinators. The spirit of Chhatra League is fuelling this violence. They cannot accept any dissent. It is crucial that they decide whether they want to replace us with the Awami League. The Anti-Discrimination Platform does not belong to anyone. If they think it does, they are mistaken, and they will not survive."

He further claimed: "There are efforts to deceive the movement that emerged from the July protests. We’re being linked with groups such as Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, Shibir, and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad. Despite this, we were warned against filing a case after holding a press conference at the hospital yesterday."

Regarding the coordination within the movement, Sohrab Reza said: "We were called to a meeting at Dhaka University. However, when we arrived at Borhanuddin College around midnight instead of the promised 11pm, the central coordinators failed to attend. We were met by Tariqul from the Health Committee, Munna from the Executive Committee of the Private University, and Zahid, the Movement’s Cell Secretary. Negotiations broke down, and we have decided to pursue legal action."

Arnab Hossain, president of Dhaka Metropolitan South of the Student Rights Council and a fellow activist in the Anti-Discrimination Movement, also said: "We will not seek justice from the chief adviser. Instead, we will file a case at the police station. If the police refuse to take it, we will begin a Durbar movement."

Masudur Rahman, who was injured in the attack, shared his experience: "Yesterday, they forcibly took me off a rickshaw, pulled my beard, and called me a militant."

In addition to Sohrab Reza and Rahman, injured students including Anta Meem, Hasib Mallik, and Al-Amin Talukder were present at the press conference.